Bolton boss Sam Allardyce is quietly confident he can attract Rivaldo to the Reebok Stadium.

The former world player of the year could sign a two-year contract as early as next week.

But under Premier League rules he would not be able to participate in the remaining games. Players, usually keepers, are only allowed to be drafted in emergencies.

But ex-Sunderland player and coach Allardyce is keen to secure his signature as soon as possible - if they agree terms.

"We are talking, and, while you are talking, you always have a good chance," he said. "We've been successful in the past with talks with Youri Djorkaeff, Jay-Jay Okocha and Ivan Campo and we can be successful again.

"It would show there is no-holds-barred in our ambition to make the team better.

"It would show we have no problem dealing with the top end players, world-class players."

Allardyce, whose side face Southampton today, is anxious to take the club to a higher level now their top-flight status has been secured. That is why he has put pressure on chairman Phil Gartside and the board to raise the bar financially if they hope to attract players of Rivaldo's quality.

"Ultimately there is a point where if you want to get into the top half, you may have to go a bit beyond what you really want to do financially," he said.

"It is worth that risk now, worth that extra element as the whole club has proved it is sound, solid and reliable. To sustain that success, that's the way we should go. We should not be thinking about what the devastation of the First Division would bring.

"We should be getting past that scenario, providing we bring the right players in."

Rivaldo, 32, is a free agent as he has been without a club since leaving Cruzeiro in his native Brazil in February.

The player's agent Peter Harrison is hopeful the former AC Milan and Barcelona star will seal a move to Bolton.

"We are still in negotiations but, hopefully, he will be a Bolton player in the next 48 hours," Harrison said.

"He would be looking to sign a two-year contract. We have nearly finalised it.

"Although Rivaldo is a high-profile player and money has been an issue in the negotiations, I think a deal can be done soon.

"He has done a lot of research and he has been well received by the club.

"Although a number of clubs have been keen, Sam Allardyce was the first manager to show a real interest in signing him."